06/14/2011

Town Council approves plan to help purchase open space next to Robinson Woods

In what was hailed as a momentous decision, the Town Council on June 13 approved a $350,000 plan to help the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust acquire and preserve 63 acres of open space next to Robinson Woods.

"This is a real watershed moment for the Town of Cape Elizabeth," said David Sherman, council chairman, after casting the final vote to authorize $350,000 toward the Land Trust's purchase of approximately 63 acres adjacent to Robinson Woods. The purchase would nearly double the 80-acre Robinson Woods open space owned by the Land Trust, and also nearly complete the Town's greenbelt plan first established in 1977.

Nearly half of the pledge, $150,000, would come from funds already in the Town's land-acquisition fund. The remaining $200,000 would come from a 20-year bond.

The vote came after a public comment session and an executive session called by the council to discuss land acquisition. Following the executive session, Councilor Anne Swift-Kayatta introduced an addition to the proposal, that the Land Trust and the Town conduct a "respectful discussion" on allowing part of the Shore Road Pathway to cross the Robinson Woods property, west of the public right of way on Shore Road.

The addendum, not binding on the pledge, could save up to $75,000 in pathway construction costs, and keep the character of Shore Road at that location intact, Swift-Kayatta said. "I don't know if this is feasible or not, but I would like to see if we could do it," Swift-Kayatta said.

Councilors unanimously approved the plan, including use of the $150,000 existing land-acquisition funds, the $200,000 bonding, and the request for dialogue with the Land Trust on the Shore Road Path. Only one councilor, Jessica Sullivan, expressed reservation. "I've been struggling with this issue," Sullivan said. She said she was all for using the money already budgeted for land-acquisition, but that she did not like adding to the Town debt.

In a related matter, councilors also voted June 13 to refinance an existing bond borrowed in 2001 for renovation of the Public Safety building, the Community Center and other projects. The refinancing could save the Town between $220,000 and $240,000 depending on interest rates, said Town Manager Michael McGovern.

Most residents speaking at the June 13 meeting also supported the Town pledge. Chris Franklin, president of the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, said that few decisions the council makes would have the same type of lasting impact. Others, including Shore Road resident Jim Schaefer and Beach Bluff Terrace resident Ogden Williams, said open spaces such as Robinson Woods make Cape Elizabeth a desirable place to live. Ingrid Stressenger, a teacher at Pond Cove Elementary School, told councilors how field trips to Robinson Woods brings learning to life, and that investing in the open space will expand those opportunities for Cape Elizabeth children and for their families.

One speaker, Spurwink Avenue resident Bill Enman, said he opposed the pledge, saying he did not understand how the council could spend $350,000 while it scrimps on other expenditures throughout the year. "The more money that goes into that land trust, the higher the taxes go," Enman said.

However, Sherman said open space preservation is a top goal for Cape Elizabeth residents, shown in survey after survey and in the Town's comprehensive Plan. "It is a vision for our town to preserve land like this," Sherman said.

The funds would go to the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust upon it securing funds from other sources to fully pay for the $1.1 million purchase amount; and, upon the Town receiving a public access easement over the land-trust property.

If the Land Trust is unable to complete acquisition of the additional Robinson property, the entire $350,000 would revert to the Town's land-acquisition fund.